Sheet-handling and transfer mechanism



July 1, 1930.

F.'S. FARLEY SHEET HANDLING "AND TRANSFER MECHANISM I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1928 w & mm

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A July 1,1930. I F, s; FAR'LY 1,768,586-

SHEET HANDLING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Sept 24, 1928 .2 sheets-shee 2 RNEYS.

board.

Patented July I, 1930 i p i p i I I are 'rATEs PATENT oFric v FRANCIS s. EARLEY, 0E T ENTON, EEW JERsEY sHEEr-HAEDLme AND TRANSFER MEoHAnIsM Application filed September 24, 1928. Serial No. 307,822.

My invention relates tosheet handling Fig- VI is an end or side elevation of the i and transfer, and is especially adaptable suction element, from the left of Fig. V.

and advantageous for dealing with sheets, Fig. VII is a top plan view of the suction of wet fibre pulp'in the manufacture of fibre. element; and, V 7' I Y 1 Fig. VIII a bottom'plan View. j V 55 In such manufacture, fibre pulp is As shownin Fig. I, the'transfer mecha brought into sheet form (and freedof much nlsm or loader comprises a carriage 10 that of its water) in an apparatus known as 3, travels back and forthalong horizontal ways t hi Th ulting h et of wet, or rails 11 carried by suitable uprights 12,

loosely coherent pulp is transferred to an S h as the pillars or posts of the build- V apparatus known as a drier, where it is .ing in Which the apparatus is housed. compacted into a strong, coherent board by AS shown, the carriage 10 has supporting h at a d r sure, a d dried t by the wheels or rollers 13 forthe'rails 11, and also ,h underrunning rollers 14 mounted on brack- 15 In transferring the wet pulp sheet from ets 15 at the rear end of the carriage and en- 65. the wet machine to the drier, I prefer to gaged underneath the top flanges of the rails make use of an apparatus which I call a 11,which are of I section. The rollers 14: loader, more fully described in the appliserve to prevent the free end of the carriage cationof D. Manson Sutherland (assignee 10 from tipping down. For supporting the of this application), Serial No. 307,839 filed fibre sheet, the carriage 10 has a movable concurrently with this application; Such a pron 16, preferably pervious or foraminous, loader comprises a horizontal reciprocatin he form Of a belt running around rolls ing carriage, which picks upthe sheet and 17, 17 at either end of the carriage 10. introduces it between the heated plates of .There is aISO a ShOI't belt 18 j11St in IEIOIlt 0f the drier. To enable the loader to pick up the belt 16, running aroundsmall I'Olls 19.

a sheet lying flat, the latter (or at least its These rolls 19are so small that the front one margin or edge) must be lifted infront of can easily enter beneath the margin of a the loader, to allow the latter to enter belifted sheet,which the belt 18 will then feed neath it. along to the main belt 16. A reversible My present invention is applicable and (electric) motor 20 on thecarriage 10 acts i very useful for this purpose; and I have through suitable connectionsto drive the hereinafter described and explained it as. carriage to and fro on the rails 11, and also thus applied. I 7 drives the belts 16, 18 both ways relative I th d i Fi I i a ide l ti n to the carriage. Wet fibre sheets S are of a loader with ,my'present invention applied in connection therewith.

Fig. II is a' fragmentary view similar to on a truck 22 on rails 23 on an elevator 24,- which may serve to bring them from a wet 1' c hine located at a different level ,(not F1g.I but showlng the loader ust enterlng mm 7 beneath lifted 0h e w that) rite hart arse f parts broken away and m ver-tlcail moved from it. The drier (not shown) into i I r which the sheets are successively introduced F 1g. III is an elevationof the llfter, from by the Carriage 10 is located the paper the g t to the right, at the other side of the pile 21 I 45 g' IV shows a cross'section through a from the carriage as shown in- Fig. I. 95

n llin valve. 7 V In operation,. the unloaded carriage 10 Fig. V shows a cross-section through a 'suorecedes (toward the left) over the pile 21,

tion element formingp'artof the lifting deafter introducing a sheet S into the drier,

r vice, taken asindicated by the line V- V in to the position shown in Fig. I. The car Fig. VII. riagenlO then returns forward toward the shown in a pile2l infront of the carriage 10,

guideways.

pile 21 and enters beneath the front edge or margin of the top sheet S,-Which has meantime been lifted or turned up (as shown in Fig. II and described hereinafter) to admit the front edge of the carriage, consisting of the belt 18. During this return movement of the carriage 10 (toward the right), the upper runs of the belts 16 and 18 travel in the opposite direction (toward the left) relative to the carriage, at a linear speed equal to the rate of travel of the carriage; and thus the sheet S is progressively lifted and picked up on the carriage in situ, without being moved horizontally relative to the pile 21, and without risk of breakage. The rearward movement of the belts 16 and 18 relative to the carriage 10 now ceases, and thecarriage moves on forward over the pile 21 into the drier (not shown), carrying the sheet S bodily with it between the plates of the drier. The carriage 10 then recedes (toward the left) while the belts 16 and 18 travel in the opposite direction (toward the right) at a rate of speed equal to the rate of travel of the carriage; and thus the sheet S is dropped or deposited in situ in the drier (by a simple reversal of the operation of picking it up), without being moved horizontally relative to the drier. The carriage 1O continues its movement to the left over and beyond the pile 21 to its position shown in Fig. I,- as already described.

For lifting the margin of the top sheet S in front of the advancing carriage 10, as mentioned above, there is a transverse lifter 30 (Fig. I) which is automatically raised and lowered in definite correlation with the movement of the carriage, and preferably by the latter itself. As shown in Fig. I, this is done by means of one or more hoisting cables 31 extending from the lifter 30 up over sheaves 32, and thence rearward under sheaves 33, with ultimate connection to the rear of the carriage 10 at 3 1. The lifter 30 is preferably guided or restrained in its up and down movement by guide means 35, shown as consisting of vertical channels at either end of the lifter, and the lifter may have round heads or anti-friction rollers 36 to engage in thechannels 35. As indicated by Figs. IIII the channels 35 are wide enough to allow the lifter some range of self-adjustment or play. To avoid an excessive range of movement of the lifter 30, the cables 31 are not connected directly to the carriage 10, but reductively geared ,thereto,.the gear shown consisting of a twoblock tackle. The cable 37 of this tacxle is attached to the fixed block 38 mounted on the beam 39. The movable block l0 is supported by an overhead guide 4:1, through anti-friction rollers 42 running on the V The cables 31 are attached to the ends of a spreader 43 to the middle of which the movable block is connected,

From the movable block 40, the cable 37 ex tends rearward over a pulley-sheave 1 1 mounted on the beam 39, and down and around a pulley-sheave 45 mounted at the rear ends of the carriage ways 11.

The lifter 30 perferably holds on to the sheet S by suction. Accordingly, it is connected by flexible connections 16, 17 to a suction-line 18 leading to any suitable exhauster or the like. As a means of releasing the sheet S after the carriage edge at 19 has entered beneath it, provision may be made for cutting off the lifter connections 47 from the suction line 18, and opening said connections 47 to the atmosphere. As shown, one or more rotary plug valves 50 'are provided for this purpose, being located adjacent the hoisting cable 31 so that the valve may be actuated by a ball 51 or the like suitably fixed on the cable. As shown in Fig. I, the rotary body of the valve 50 hasoppositely bent arms or horns 52, 52 for the ball 51 to engage and act on,the ball pushing each horn 52 to the limit of its movement in each direction, and then slipping under its curved tip, or even past it. As shown in Fig. I, the lifter 30 has settled down fully on the top sheet S, the carriage 10 is in its extreme rear position, the ball 51 is at the limit of its movement, and the valve 50 is full open to connect the lifter 30 to suction. The valve 50 is closed to suction and opened to the atmosphere where the margin of the sheet has been lifted somewhat higher than required to admit the carriage edge beneath it, as shown in Fig. 11.

As here shown, and especially in Figs. IIII and V, the lifter 30 comprises a transverse header 53 with duplicate suction connections 47, 47 leading to the valve 50, and multiple connections 46 to its multiple suction mouths or chambers. On the header 53 are clamped a couple of triangular parts 5Ato which the duplicate hoisting cables 31 are attached at 55, and which carry pivots 56 for suspension links 57 58 connected to slotted ears 61, 62 on the lifter 3O proper by pivotrods 63, 6A. The slots in the ears 61, 62 afford some lost motion or leeway for descent of the parts 53, 54:, etc. after the lifter 30 has settled down on a sheet S,in other words, leave the lifter 30 freedom of self-adjustment to the sheet uninfluenced by the parts 53, 54, etc. and the hoisting cable 31,'-and also allow the valve 50 to be operated after the lifter has settled down on the sheet S. As shown in Figs. 1, II and V, the effective connections of the hoisting means31, 54: to the lifter 30 at the pivots 56 are in front of the center of gravity of the lifter, so that as the cable 31 is taken up, the lifter will tilt rearward away from the edge of the sheet, as shown in Fig. I, and thus tend to bend up the margin of. the sheet aroundthe rear cor of the lifter. Accordingly, the. lifter has, a rearward extension or curvedilip 66. on which it rocks when thus tilted, so as to assure. an easy bendflin the. sheet. Preferably,

the lower ends of the rear links 58 are slotted as at 68, so that the lifter 30 will be tilted and rocked as shown in Fig. II

before there can be any tendency to raise the lifter as a whole.

As shown in Figs. III and VVIII, the suction mouths and chambers of thelifter 30 are in separate and independent units 70, each with its own cars 61, 62 and fl6X ible suction connection 46; This allows the suction mouths to settle down and adjust themselves individually to the surfaceof the sheet, so as to minimize leakage and give the lifter the greatest possible lift ing power. The pivot rods 63, Gt'transmit the weight of the sections to the connections 57, 5 8, 5 1 and the cables 31, forming what is in effect a somewhat resilient, flexible transverse lifting yoke. Each lifter unit may have a cast metal body and a contact facing 71 of softer and more yielding material, such as rubber. As shown, the facing 71 has the form of a frame with a protective grid work 72. In addition, there is a foraminous guard 78 over the mouth, shown in the drawings as a metal plate drilled with a multitude of fine holes closely spaced. The plate 73 seats in a rabbet in the facing 71, and is held in place by screws 74 that extend through the facing 71 into the body 7 0*,thus securing the facing to the body. The lip portion 75 of the facing 71 is secured to the lip 66 of the body by bolts 76 through its margins, a bevel-edged metal strip 77 be-' the plate 7 3, andalso yields to permit some inward deflection of the facing 71 by the atmosphere.

, Having thus described my invention I claim 1. The combination of a reciprocatory self-feeding sheet-transfer carriage, a lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carriage, and means for lowering the lifter on the margin of a sheet as the carriage recedes therefrom and raising the lifter as the carriagereturns, thereby liftingsaid margin to admit the edge I of the carriage thereunder,' so that the self-feedingcarriage may draw The grid or grillage 72 prethe sheet on to itself as it returns toward and under the sheet. s 2. The. combination of a vreciprocatory self-feeding sheet-transfer carriage, and a lifter for engagingia sheet in front of the carriage reductively geared thereto to be lowered on the sheet. as the carriage recedes therefro nand-t0 be lifted with the margin of'thesheet as the carriage. returns. 1

3. The combination of ayreciprocatory selffifeeding sheet-transfer carriage, a lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carriage, and means for raising and lowering said lifter including a cable connected to thecarriageto be paid out. as the latter recedes from the sheet and pulled; up. as the carriage returns.

4:. The combination of a; reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage, a transverse lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carh rlage, means for raising and lQWGIlIlg the lifter-including a hoisting cableconnected to the lifter and operated, by the; carriage, and upright guideways for the ends of the lifterateither sideof the-path of the carriage.

5. The combination of a reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage,a lifter for engaging the marginof a sheet in front of the carriage, and; hoisting and: lowering means operated by the carriage and; attached to the lifter in front of its center of gravity, so that as the lifter rises it shall rock inward from the. edge of the sheet and turn up the margin; of the latter. a v Y 6. The coinbinationv of reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage, a lifter for engaging the, margin. of a sheetinfflOIl 0i the-c riage and, raising the same to. admitthe edge of the carriage thereunder a lifting and lowering cable for; said-sheet lifter, and l a. reductive tackle connected tor said Cable and operated by said carriage to lowerflthe lifter on. a sheet as the carriage recedes therefrom andto-raise the lifter and the marginof the sheet as the Carriage; returns. 7.;Thecombination. of a reciprooatory sheet-transfer carriage, asuction lifter for V engaginga sheet in front ofthe carriage provided withalip curved rearward and upward fromthe suction mouth, and. hoisting means. operated by the carriage, and con- 1' nected to said lifter in frontofnits. center-of gravity, so as to rock the lifter rearward on. its lip in raising itand thus turn up the marginof the sheet in an-easy bend. v

8. The combination of a 'reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage; a suction lifter for engaging the margin of a sheet. in front of the carriage; means for loweringthe lifter on a sheetas the carriagerecedes from the sheet, and raisingthe lifter as the carriage" returns; and means o au om cally connecting. the lifter to,---s uc,tion when {it de- .scends' on he she t; n disconnee ing. i

from suction as the carriage enters beneath and means actuated by said cable for connecting the lifter to suction when it descends on the sheet and disconnecting it from suction as the carriage enters beneath the raised margin of the sheet.

10. The combination of a'reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage; a suction lifter for engaging the margin of a sheet in front of the carriage; means for lowering the lifter on a sheet, and rocking it away from the edgeof the sheet so as to turn up the margin, as the carriage recedes from the sheet, and raising the lifter as the carriage returns; and means for automatically connecting the lifter to suction when it has settled down on the sheet and disconnecting it therefrom after'the carriage has entered beneath the turned up margin of the sheet.

11. The combination of a reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage, a suction lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carriage, control means for connecting the lifter to suction and disconnecting it therefrom, and hoisting means for said lifter provided with means for actuating said control means and including a lost motion between the latter and the lifter, so that the lifter may settle down on the sheet before being connected to V suction.

12. The combination of a reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage, and a suction lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carriage comprising a resilient flexible transverse lifting yoke operated by the carriage and a series of suction elements with separate lost-motion connections to the yoke, so that the elements may adjust themselves individually to the surface of the sheet.

13. The combination of a reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage, and a suction lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carriage comprising a transverse lifting yoke operated by the carriage and a series of suction elements with supporting connections arrangedto allow the elements to adjust themselves to the sheet individually when they are lowered on it and to tilt back away from the carriage when they are lifted.

l luThe combination of a reciprocatory sheet-transfer carriage, and a suction lifter for engaging a sheet in front of the carriage having a suction mouth with flaring edges yielding to external atmospheric pressure so as to hug the sheet, and means across the mouth for preventing a sheet from being drawn into it by the suction.

FRANCIS s. FARLEY. 

